Rehabilitation Exercising Equipment Having Balance and Rotation Functions

ABSTRACT

A rehabilitation exercising equipment includes a main frame, a pivot mechanism pivotally mounted on the main frame, and a seat unit mounted on the pivot mechanism to move in concert with the pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism includes a rotation shaft rotatably mounted on the main frame, and two first bearings each pivotally mounted on the rotation shaft and each connected with the seat unit so that the seat unit is movable in concert with the two first bearings relative to the rotation shaft. Thus, the seat unit is pivoted leftward and rightward relative to the main frame and is swiveled horizontally relative to the main frame to achieve an exercising, balance or rehabilitating function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to arehabilitation equipment and, more particularly, to a rehabilitationexercising equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional rehabilitation exercising equipment primarily comprises asupport frame, a handlebar mounted on the support frame, a seatswivelably mounted on the support frame, and a damping mechanism mountedbetween the support frame and the seat. Thus, when a user is seated onthe seat, he/she can apply a force on the seat to swivel the seathorizontally relative to the support frame so as to exercise orrehabilitate the user's body. However, the seat is only swiveledrelative to the support frame and cannot be pivoted leftward andrightward relative to the support frame, thereby limiting the exercisingor rehabilitating function of the rehabilitation exercising equipment.In addition, the seat is driven manually by the user and cannot be movedautomatically so that the user cannot move the seat easily when his/herbody is injured, thereby greatly limiting the rehabilitating function ofthe rehabilitation exercising equipment. Further, the rehabilitationexercising equipment has a complicated construction and is not assembledeasily and quickly, thereby increasing the cost of fabrication andassembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided arehabilitation exercising equipment, comprising a main frame, a pivotmechanism pivotally mounted on the main frame, and a seat unit mountedon the pivot mechanism to move in concert with the pivot mechanism. Thepivot mechanism includes a rotation shaft rotatably mounted on the mainframe, and two first bearings each pivotally mounted on the rotationshaft and each connected with the seat unit so that the seat unit ismovable in concert with the two first bearings relative to the rotationshaft.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide arehabilitation exercising equipment having balance and rotationfunctions.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the seatunit is pivoted leftward and rightward relative to the main frame and isswiveled horizontally relative to the main frame so as to achieve anexercising, balance or rehabilitating function.

According to another advantage of the present invention, therehabilitation exercising equipment has a simplified construction and isassembled easily and quickly to decrease the cost of fabrication andassembly.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rehabilitation exercising equipment inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rehabilitation exercisingequipment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the rehabilitation exercising equipment asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the rehabilitation exercising equipment asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the rehabilitation exercisingequipment as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the rehabilitation exercisingequipment as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the rehabilitation exercisingequipment as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a schematic top operational view of the rehabilitationexercising equipment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic top operational view of the rehabilitationexercising equipment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side operational view of the rehabilitationexercising equipment as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rehabilitation exercising equipmentin accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the rehabilitation exercisingequipment as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the rehabilitation exercising equipment asshown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a rehabilitationexercising equipment in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention comprises a main frame 1, a pivot mechanism 12pivotally mounted on the main frame 1, and a seat unit 20 mounted on thepivot mechanism 12 to move in concert with the pivot mechanism 12.

The main frame 1 includes a support bar 10, a mounting bracket 11mounted on the support bar 10 for mounting the pivot mechanism 12, anextension bar 16 connected with the support bar 10, and a control panel17 mounted on the extension bar 16. The mounting bracket 11 of the mainframe 1 has a substantially inverted U-shaped profile and has a topplate 110 provided with a mounting hole 111 and a plurality of lockingholes 112. The control panel 17 of the main frame 1 is preferably anelectronic instrument panel.

The pivot mechanism 12 is pivotable leftward and rightward relative tothe main frame 1 and is swivelable horizontally relative to the mainframe 1. The pivot mechanism 12 includes a rotation shaft 18 rotatablymounted on the main frame 1, and two first bearings 131 each pivotallymounted on the rotation shaft 18 and each connected with the seat unit20 so that the seat unit 20 is movable in concert with the two firstbearings 131 relative to the rotation shaft 18. The pivot mechanism 12further includes two second bearings 13 each mounted between the mainframe 1 and the rotation shaft 18, a support shaft 19 mounted on therotation shaft 18 and extended through each of the two first bearings131 to support the two first bearings 131, a fixing plate 141 mounted onan upper end of the rotation shaft 18, and two buffering pads 15 eachmounted on the fixing plate 141 and each located between the fixingplate 141 and the seat unit 20.

The rotation shaft 18 of the pivot mechanism 12 is disposed at anupright state. The rotation shaft 18 of the pivot mechanism 12 isextended through the two second bearings 13 and the mounting hole 111 ofthe mounting bracket 11. The rotation shaft 18 of the pivot mechanism 12is rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket 11 of the main frame 1 andis rotatably mounted in the two second bearings 13. The rotation shaft18 of the pivot mechanism 12 is rotatable relative to the main frame 1in a first (vertical) direction, and each of the two first bearings 131of the pivot mechanism 12 is rotatable relative to the main frame 1 in asecond (horizontal) direction that is perpendicular to the first(vertical) direction of the rotation shaft 18. The support shaft 19 ofthe pivot mechanism 12 is perpendicular to the rotation shaft 18.

The two first bearings 131 of the pivot mechanism 12 are disposedbetween the rotation shaft 18 and the seat unit 20. Each of the twofirst bearings 131 of the pivot mechanism 12 is pivotally mounted on thesupport shaft 19. Each of the two first bearings 131 of the pivotmechanism 12 has a top provided with a locking plate 14 locked onto abottom of the seat unit 20. Each of the two first bearings 131 of thepivot mechanism 12 is perpendicular to each of the two second bearings13. Each of the two second bearings 13 of the pivot mechanism 12 isaffixed to the mounting bracket 11 of the main frame 1 by the lockingholes 112 of the mounting bracket 11, and the top plate 110 of themounting bracket 11 is sandwiched between the two second bearings 13 ofthe pivot mechanism 12.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 5-7 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, eachof the two first bearings 131 of the pivot mechanism 12 is rotatedrelative to the main frame 1 in the horizontal direction so that theseat unit 20 is pivoted leftward and rightward relative to the mainframe 1 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In such a manner, when a user isseated on the seat unit 20 as shown in FIG. 7, he/she can apply a forceon the seat unit 20 to pivot the seat unit 20 leftward and rightwardrelative to the main frame 1 so as to achieve an exercising, balance orrehabilitating function.

Alternatively, referring to FIGS. 8-10 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, therotation shaft 18 of the pivot mechanism 12 is rotated relative to themain frame 1 in the vertical direction so that the seat unit 20 isswiveled horizontally relative to the main frame 1 as shown in FIGS. 8and 9. In such a manner, when a user is kneeled or seated on the seatunit 20 as shown in FIG. 10, he/she can apply a force on the seat unit20 to swivel the seat unit 20 horizontally relative to the main frame 1so as to achieve an exercising or rehabilitating function.

Referring to FIGS. 11-13, the rehabilitation exercising equipmentfurther comprises a transmission mechanism 3 mounted between the mainframe 1 and the pivot mechanism 12. The transmission mechanism 3includes a drive geared member 31 mounted on the rotation shaft 18 ofthe pivot mechanism 12 to move in concert with the rotation shaft 18 ofthe pivot mechanism 12, a drive unit 30 mounted on the main frame 1, adriving geared member 32 rotatably mounted on the drive unit 30, and alinking member 33 mounted between the driving geared member 32 and thedrive geared member 31 to link the driving geared member 32 and thedrive geared member 31.

The drive geared member 31 of the transmission mechanism 3 is secured ona lower end of the rotation shaft 18 of the pivot mechanism 12 and islocated under the two second bearings 13 of the pivot mechanism 12. Thedrive geared member 31 of the transmission mechanism 3 is rotatablymounted on the drive unit 30. The drive unit 30 of the transmissionmechanism 3 is received in the mounting bracket 11 of the main frame 1and is located under the pivot mechanism 12. The drive unit 30 of thetransmission mechanism 3 is electrically connected to and controlled bythe control panel 17 of the main frame 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drive unit 30of the transmission mechanism 3 is a magnetically controlled resistancedevice. Alternatively, the drive unit 30 of the transmission mechanism 3is a powered motor. In addition, the linking member 33 is a toothedbelt. Alternatively, each of the driving geared member 32 and the drivegeared member 31 is a sprocket, while the linking member 33 is a chain.

In operation, when the drive unit 30 of the transmission mechanism 3 isa magnetically controlled resistance device, the drive unit 30 providesa damping force to the driving geared member 32 and the drive gearedmember 31 by connection of the linking member 33 to damp rotation of therotation shaft 18 of the pivot mechanism 12 so as to provide aresistance to the seat unit 20 so that the user has to apply a largerforce to swivel the seat unit 20 horizontally relative to the main frame1, thereby enhancing the exercising or rehabilitating effect. At thistime, the damping force of the drive unit 30 is controlled by thecontrol panel 17 of the main frame 1.

Alternatively, when the drive unit 30 of the transmission mechanism 3 isa powered motor, the drive unit 30 drives the driving geared member 32which drives the linking member 33 which drives the drive geared member31 which drives the rotation shaft 18 which drives the seat unit 20 sothat the seat unit 20 is driven by the drive unit 30 and is swiveledhorizontally relative to the main frame 1 so as to achieve arehabilitating function automatically.

Accordingly, the seat unit 20 is pivoted leftward and rightward relativeto the main frame 1 and is swiveled horizontally relative to the mainframe 1 so as to achieve an exercising, balance or rehabilitatingfunction. In addition, the drive unit 30 of the transmission mechanism 3functions as a magnetically controlled resistance device to provide adamping force to the seat unit 20 so that the user has to apply a largerforce to swivel the seat unit 20 horizontally relative to the main frame1, thereby enhancing the exercising or rehabilitating effect. Further,the drive unit 30 of the transmission mechanism 3 functions as a poweredmotor to drive the seat unit 20 so that the seat unit 20 is driven bythe drive unit 30 and is swiveled horizontally relative to the mainframe 1 so as to achieve a rehabilitating function automatically.Further, the rehabilitation exercising equipment has a simplifiedconstruction and is assembled easily and quickly to decrease the cost offabrication and assembly.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A rehabilitation exercising equipment, comprising: a main frame; apivot mechanism pivotally mounted on the main frame; and a seat unitmounted on the pivot mechanism to move in concert with the pivotmechanism.
 2. The rehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 1,wherein the pivot mechanism includes: a rotation shaft rotatably mountedon the main frame; and two first bearings each pivotally mounted on therotation shaft and each connected with the seat unit; the seat unit ismovable in concert with the two first bearings relative to the rotationshaft.
 3. The rehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 2, whereinthe pivot mechanism further includes two second bearings each mountedbetween the main frame and the rotation shaft; the rotation shaft of thepivot mechanism is rotatably mounted in the two second bearings; each ofthe two first bearings of the pivot mechanism is perpendicular to eachof the two second bearings.
 4. The rehabilitation exercising equipmentof claim 2, wherein the pivot mechanism further includes: a fixing platemounted on an upper end of the rotation shaft; and two buffering padseach mounted on the fixing plate and each located between the fixingplate and the seat unit.
 5. The rehabilitation exercising equipment ofclaim 2, wherein the pivot mechanism further includes a support shaftmounted on the rotation shaft and extended through each of the two firstbearings to support the two first bearings; the rotation shaft of thepivot mechanism is disposed at an upright state; the support shaft ofthe pivot mechanism is perpendicular to the rotation shaft; each of thetwo first bearings of the pivot mechanism is pivotally mounted on thesupport shaft.
 6. The rehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 2,wherein the two first bearings of the pivot mechanism are disposedbetween the rotation shaft and the seat unit; each of the two firstbearings of the pivot mechanism has a top provided with a locking platelocked onto a bottom of the seat unit.
 7. The rehabilitation exercisingequipment of claim 2, wherein the main frame includes: a support bar;and a mounting bracket mounted on the support bar for mounting the pivotmechanism; the rotation shaft of the pivot mechanism is rotatablymounted on the mounting bracket of the main frame.
 8. The rehabilitationexercising equipment of claim 7, wherein the pivot mechanism furtherincludes two second bearings each mounted between the main frame and therotation shaft; the mounting bracket of the main frame has a top plateprovided with a mounting hole and a plurality of locking holes; the topplate of the mounting bracket is sandwiched between the two secondbearings of the pivot mechanism; the rotation shaft of the pivotmechanism is rotatably mounted in the two second bearings; the rotationshaft of the pivot mechanism is extended through the two second bearingsand the mounting hole of the mounting bracket; each of the two secondbearings of the pivot mechanism is affixed to the mounting bracket ofthe main frame by the locking holes of the mounting bracket.
 9. Therehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 7, wherein the main framefurther includes: an extension bar connected with the support bar; and acontrol panel mounted on the extension bar.
 10. The rehabilitationexercising equipment of claim 2, wherein the rotation shaft of the pivotmechanism is rotatable relative to the main frame in a first direction;and each of the two first bearings of the pivot mechanism is rotatablerelative to the main frame in a second direction that is perpendicularto the first direction of the rotation shaft.
 11. The rehabilitationexercising equipment of claim 2, wherein the rehabilitation exercisingequipment further comprises a transmission mechanism mounted between themain frame and the pivot mechanism; the transmission mechanism includes:a drive geared member mounted on the rotation shaft of the pivotmechanism to move in concert with the rotation shaft of the pivotmechanism; a drive unit mounted on the main frame; a driving gearedmember rotatably mounted on the drive unit; and a linking member mountedbetween the driving geared member and the drive geared member to linkthe driving geared member and the drive geared member.
 12. Therehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 11, wherein the drivegeared member of the transmission mechanism is rotatably mounted on thedrive unit.
 13. The rehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 11,wherein the pivot mechanism further includes two second bearings eachmounted between the main frame and the rotation shaft; the drive gearedmember of the transmission mechanism is secured on a lower end of therotation shaft of the pivot mechanism and is located under the twosecond bearings of the pivot mechanism.
 14. The rehabilitationexercising equipment of claim 11, wherein the main frame includes: asupport bar; and a mounting bracket mounted on the support bar formounting the pivot mechanism; the rotation shaft of the pivot mechanismis rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket of the main frame; thedrive unit of the transmission mechanism is received in the mountingbracket of the main frame and is located under the pivot mechanism. 15.The rehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 14, wherein the mainframe further includes: an extension bar connected with the support bar;and a control panel mounted on the extension bar; the drive unit of thetransmission mechanism is electrically connected to and controlled bythe control panel of the main frame.
 16. The rehabilitation exercisingequipment of claim 11, wherein the drive unit of the transmissionmechanism is a magnetically controlled resistance device.
 17. Therehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 11, wherein the drive unitof the transmission mechanism is a powered motor.
 18. The rehabilitationexercising equipment of claim 11, wherein the linking member is atoothed belt.
 19. The rehabilitation exercising equipment of claim 11,wherein each of the driving geared member and the drive geared member isa sprocket; and the linking member is a chain.
 20. The rehabilitationexercising equipment of claim 2, wherein the pivot mechanism ispivotable leftward and rightward relative to the main frame and isswivelable horizontally relative to the main frame.